The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme · The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a curriculum designed for students aged 11–16, a period that is a particularly

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle YearsProgramme

Curriculum

Guide2018-2019

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MISSION AND VISION

IB LEARNER PROFILE

OVERVIEW MYP COURSE OVERVIEW

Language & Literature Language Acquisition Individuals & Societies Sciences Mathematics Design The ArtsPhysical & Health Education

THE MYP PERSONAL PROJECT

CAS: CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

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Contents

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MIS

SION

AND

VIS

ION

MissionAs an IB World School, ISHCMC constructs a Culture of Achievement in an environment where students are energized, engaged and empowered to become active participants in their communities.

VisionISHCMC’s vision is to be widely recognized as a school that nurtures a creative and collaborative learning environment in which students and teachers seek to achieve beyond their goals, flourish as individuals, display compassion, embrace

challenge, take principled action on local and global issues and enjoy being part of their community.

ValuesAt ISHCMC we value:

• Individual learners• Creative and inquiring thinkers• Learning beyond the classroom• International mindedness• Reflection and goal-setting• Collaboration and connectivity• Environmental sustainability• Healthy and mindful choices• Honest and principled actions

ISHCMC Principles of Learning• All learners are capable of achieving their goals in a guided environment where there is an appropriate balance of

standards, challenge and support.• Learning builds on prior knowledge and experiences and is contextual, meaningful and valuable. • Learning is an active process that takes time and is strengthened through opportunities for errors, practice,

reflection, and further revision of ideas.• Motivation is a key factor in learning.• Learning is effective when differentiated.• Learning should take place in a safe engaging environment.• Learning should encompass the personal, local and global, aiming to make for a better world.

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Mission and Vision

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IB learner profileIB learner profile IB learner profile


IB learner profileIB learner profile

IB learner profile IB learner profileIB learner profile

IB learner profile

The IB learner pro�le represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

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We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global signi�cance.

We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

We express ourselves con�dently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate e�ectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive di�erence in the lives of others and in the world around us.

We understand the importance of balancing di�erent aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

IB learner profile

IB learner profile

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

As IB learners we strive to be:

IB learner profileTH

E IB

LEA

RNER

PRO

FILE

ThinkersWe use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

Inquirers


PrincipledWe act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

CaringWe show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

BalancedWe understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives–intellectual, physical, and emotional to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

CommunicatorsWe express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

Risk-takers We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

Knowledgeable We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

Open-mindedWe critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

Reflective We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

The IB Learner ProfileThe IB aims to provide the framework to develop “caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” The IB Learner Profile describes the attributes fostered in students at ISHCMC in support of these aims. ISHCMC students are:

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The IB Learner Profile



IB learner profileIB learner profile

IB learner profile IB learner profileIB learner profile

IB learner profile

The IB learner pro�le represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

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We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global signi�cance.

We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

We express ourselves con�dently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate e�ectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive di�erence in the lives of others and in the world around us.

We understand the importance of balancing di�erent aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

IB learner profile

IB learner profile

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

As IB learners we strive to be:

IB learner profile

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3

It teaches you to analyse and evaluate issues, generate novel ideas and con-

sider new perspectives.

The MYP encourages critical thinking

Through the MYP community project you learn to service the community and con-

nect what you learn in the classroom to "real life".

Learn by doing and experiencing

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Learn ‘how to learn’ using communication, research,

self-management, collaboration and critical thinking skills.

Become a life-long learner

5

Not just to memorize facts or topics and prepare for exams.

Learn for understanding 4

The MYP helps you increase your understanding

ideas and issues.

Explore global challenges

6

- organize and plan your work- meet deadlines- concentrate - bounce back- persist- think positively.

Train yourself to:

10

The MYP helps you critically appreciate your own culture and personal history, as well as the values and traditions

of others.

It encourages international- mindedness

7

You are encouraged to make connections between subjects.

Subjects are not taught in isolation

9

Prepare yourself for the IB Diploma Programme or IB Career-related

Programme delivered by IB World Schools globally.

It prepares you for future education

8It empowers

you to develop your talents

Feel empowered to prove what you know and earn the

course results.

10 Reasons

why the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) encourages you to become a creative, critical and

OVER

VIEW

IntroductionThe Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a curriculum designed for students aged 11–16, a period that is a particularly critical phase of personal and intellectual development. The program builds upon the inquiry-based approach to learning developed in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and prepares students for the academic rigor of the IB Diploma Programme.

The MYP framework of learning encourages ISHCMC students to engage in creative, critical and reflective thinking and empowers them for a lifetime of learning, both independently and in collaboration with others.

Learning in the MYP focuses on:

• Approaches to Learning — the essential skills needed for successful learning• Concepts — big ideas that have relevance within and across subject areas• Global Contexts — lenses through which students make connections with the real world• Service learning — meaningful action arising from the curriculum• Authentic assessments — real-life challenges and problems that students are presented with, often

with a genuine audience in mind• Connecting subjects — interdisciplinary teaching and learning enables students to transfer knowledge,

concepts and skills across different subject areas

The MYP fosters the development of intercultural understanding and global engagement to participate actively and responsibly in a complex and changing world. These international perspectives are further promoted through the sustained learning of more than one language.

Subject AreasThe MYP organizes teaching and learning through eight subject areas:

• Language & Literature• Language Acquisition• Individuals & Societies• Sciences• Mathematics• Design• The Arts• Physical & Health Education

In some subjects at ISHCMC, discrete disciplines are taught and assessed within a subject area: for example, Business, Economics, Geography, History and Psychology within Individuals & Societies; Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Physics within Sciences.

In Grades 7, English Language & Literature and Individuals & Societies is combined into one course called “Ensoc”. This integrated subject area allows students to make connections across the two subject areas.

Students also learn via interdisciplinary units in all grades, combining two to three subject areas to synthesisetheir knowledge and understanding. This is particularly true of Grade 6 where a significant proportion of learning is interdisciplinary, thereby forming a smooth transition from Studio 5.

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3

It teaches you to analyse and evaluate issues, generate novel ideas and con-

sider new perspectives.

The MYP encourages critical thinking

Through the MYP community project you learn to service the community and con-

nect what you learn in the classroom to "real life".

Learn by doing and experiencing

21

Learn ‘how to learn’ using communication, research,

self-management, collaboration and critical thinking skills.

Become a life-long learner

5

Not just to memorize facts or topics and prepare for exams.

Learn for understanding 4

The MYP helps you increase your understanding

ideas and issues.

Explore global challenges

6

- organize and plan your work- meet deadlines- concentrate - bounce back- persist- think positively.

Train yourself to:

10

The MYP helps you critically appreciate your own culture and personal history, as well as the values and traditions

of others.

It encourages international- mindedness

7

You are encouraged to make connections between subjects.

Subjects are not taught in isolation

9

Prepare yourself for the IB Diploma Programme or IB Career-related

Programme delivered by IB World Schools globally.

It prepares you for future education

8It empowers

you to develop your talents

Feel empowered to prove what you know and earn the

course results.

10 Reasons

why the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) encourages you to become a creative, critical and

Overview

A skill set for lifelong learning: ATL skills Integral to all learning in the MYP are the ten clusters of ‘approaches to learning’ (ATL) skills, the vehicle by which students can develop their IB Learner Profile characteristics. Students are encouraged to learn, practice and develop these ATL skills through the five years of the program in order to thrive as independent learners in the IB Diploma and beyond.

At ISHCMC, these skills are taught both through MYP subject areas as well as through the Advisory program and IB Core, a class that takes place once each 10 day cycle.

NON-COGNITIVE

COGNITIVE

METACOGNITIVE

SOCIALCollaboration skills

THINKINGCritical thinking skillsCreative thinkingTransfer

RESEARCHMedia literacyInformation literacy

COMMUNICATIONCommunication skills

SELF-MANAGEMENTAffective skillsOrganizational skillsReflective skills

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CommunicationExchanging ideas through interaction, and in reading, writing and using language.

Collaboration Working cooperatively with others.

Organization Effectively managing time and tasks.

Affective skillsLearning how to remain focused, to demonstrate persistence and perseverance, and to ‘bounce back’ from disappointments.

Reflection Learning how to learn, re-considering what has been taught and learned.

Information literacy Finding, interpreting, judging and creating information.

Media literacyUsing information from a variety of media sources, and demonstrating awareness of media interpretations of events and ideas, and its impact.

Critical thinkingInterpreting and evaluating evidence to develop opposing arguments, and to draw reasonable conclusions.

Creative thinkingThe skills of invention – developing things and ideas that never existed before.

Transfer Using skills and knowledge in multiple contexts.

Surveys of university admissions officers and employers firmly make the case for learning ATL skills. Consistently, it is qualities such as the ability to be an effective communicator, a team player and a critical thinker that rank highest on what they’re seeking in a university student or prospective employee.

Adapted from www.taolean.com

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Overview

Global ContextsStudents learn best when their learning has a context and is connected to their lives and to the world that they experience.

Using six interdisciplinary ‘Global Contexts’ the MYP emphasizes the importance of learning in and about real life experiences and situations. The Global Contexts act as lenses to foster connections between subject areas to foster a holistic approach to learning.

Each MYP unit is framed by one of these Global Contexts:

A conceptual frameworkEach subject area is framed by ‘key concepts’, big ideas that add depth to a student’s learning and as a way to make connections between subject areas. More subject-specific ‘related concepts’ are used to add breadth to their learning. Each unit uses inquiry approaches to teaching and learning to develop this conceptual understanding.

The MYP identifies 16 key concepts that are explored across the curriculum:

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Identities & RelationshipsWho am I? Who are we?

Scientific & Technical InnovationHow do we understand the world

in which we live?

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Orientation in Space & TimeWhere? When?

Fairness & Development What are the consequencesof our common humanity?

Globalization & Sustainability How is everything connected?

Personal & Cultural ExpressionWhat is the nature and purpose of

creative expression?

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Overview

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MYP

COU

RSE

OVER

VIEW

Subjects offered in the MYP at ISHCMC

Subjects Additional information

Language & Literature Students can take the following Language & Literature courses:• English• Korean• Vietnamese (all Vietnamese nationals)

Language Acquisition Students can take the following Language Acquisition courses:• English (if deemed necessary)• French• Mandarin• Spanish

Individuals & Societies An integrated course combining Business, Economics, Geography, History and Psychology.

Sciences An integrated course combining Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Physics.

Mathematics An integrated course focusing on Algebra, Geometry, Number, Probability, Statistics and Trigonometry.

Design Grade 6 students are introduced to Design (as well as Food Technology and Media in the Arts rotation). Grade 7-8 students learn Design via Food Technology, Media and Product Design in trimesters before making choices in Grades 9 and 10. See Arts below for more detail.

The Arts Grade 6 students learn Drama, Food Technology, Media, Music, and Visual Arts in rotation. Grade 7-8 students learn Drama, Music and Visual Arts in trimesters. In Grade 9, students are offered 12 choices of semester-long courses that encompass Arts and Design, choosing four (two for each semester) to decide their direction in Arts/Design, whether it is a focus on one subject area or a mixture. In Grade 10 (2019-2020), students will choose two year-long courses in Arts, Design, or a combination of both, based on their experiences in Grade 9. Until then, Grade 10 students choose one Arts and one Design course.

Physical & Health Education A course that integrates physical activity and learning about how to be healthy.

Note:Language & Literature is combined with Individual & Societies in Grades 7 and called Ensoc. In Grade 6, single subjects are learned alongside interdisciplinary units that integrate multiple object areas, using a Global Context (see page 12) to blend them together.

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MYP Course Overview

ISHCMC offers the Language & Literature course in English, Vietnamese and Korean. All Vietnamese nationals take Vietnamese Language & Literature to meet the requirements of the Vietnamese government. If parents require that their child takes a Language & Literature course in another language, the school can provide the venue and give support in finding a tutor.

AimsThe aims of MYP Language & Literature are to encourage and enable students to:

• use language as a vehicle for thought, creativity, reflection, learning, self-expression, analysis and social interaction

• develop the skills involved in listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing

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LANG

UAGE

&

LITE

RATU

RE

and presenting in a variety of contexts• develop critical, creative and personal approaches to studying and analyzing literary and non-literary texts• engage with text from different historical periods and a variety of cultures• explore and analyze aspects of personal, host and other cultures through literary and non-literary texts• explore language through a variety of media and modes• develop a lifelong interest in reading• apply linguistic and literary concepts and skills in a variety of authentic contexts.

Examples of inquiries in Language & Literature include:Grade 7 as part of our ENSOC program investigate how purpose and perspective shape connections made in the world in a study of Early Exploration.

Grade 9 study various short stories to explore how audiences’ emotions can be impacted through the style of creative writing.

Grade 10 seek to understand how freedom of expression can lead to social and political conflict through Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis.

Assessment Criteria Criterion A Criterion B Criterion C Criterion D

Language & Literature Analyzing Organizing Producing Text Using Language

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Language & Literature

The ability to communicate in more than one language is essential to an international education that promotes multilingualism and intercultural understanding, both of which are central to learning as an IB student. Language Acquisition in the MYP aims to develop a respect for, and understanding of, other languages and cultures, and is equally designed to equip the student with a skills base to facilitate further language learning.

There are six phases (phase 1-6) in any Language Acquisition subject. Teachers decide the most suitable phase in which to place individual students based on the students’ skills and knowledge of the language.

AimsThe aims of the teaching and learning of MYP Language Acquisition are to:

• gain proficiency in an additional language while supporting maintenance of their Mother Tongue and cultural heritage.

• develop a respect for, and understanding of, diverse linguistic and cultural heritages

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ITIO

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• develop a student’s communication skills necessary for further language learning• offer insight into the cultural characteristics of the communities where the language is spoken• foster curiosity, inquiry and a lifelong interest in, and enjoyment of, language learning.

Possible pathways in Language AcquisitionLanguage Acquisition is for students with little or no experience in the language. Language Acquisition in French, Spanish, Mandarin and English aim to build these developing language skills. The possible pathways for students include:

French/Mandarin/SpanishStudents entering ISHCMC in grades 6-10 may choose to join a Language Acquisition class in either French, Mandarin or Spanish. As a requirement of the MYP, students should continue in their chosen language for the duration of their MYP years. The aim is for students to build the language skills for further study in the language at Diploma level at either Higher Level or Standard level.

English Language AcquisitionStudents entering ISHCMC with phase 1-2 level of English take English Language Acquisition. Upon reaching phase 5-6 students will join one of the other Language Acquisition courses (French, Spanish or Mandarin) and the Language and Literature course offered at their grade level.

Mother Tongue students (Grades 9-10)Students entering ISHCMC with strong skills in a language other than English are encouraged to continue their Mother Tongue. ISHCMC will offer support in finding a suitable tutor. The aim for this pathway is for students to continue their mother language(s) to study either Literature or Language & Literature in the Diploma program.

Examples of inquiries in Language Acquisition include: • Exploring how communication varies through different cultural contexts, and allows us to build stronger

relationships and the expression of our own identities. • Using language creatively to communicate our point of view on fairness and inequality to impact change. • Learning about our own cultural identity enables us to be more tolerant and empathize with other

cultures around us.


LanguageAcquisition

Comprehendingspoken and visual text

Comprehendingwritten and visual text

Communicating Using language

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Language Acquisition

At ISHCMC, MYP Individuals & Societies integrates Business, Economics, Geography, History, and Psychology. Students learn via units that encourage inquiry from a number of perspectives, bringing together knowledge and conceptual understandings from the different disciplines within the subject area.

Note: In other educational systems the Individuals & Societies course is often called Humanities or Social Studies.

AimsThe aims of MYP Individuals & Societies are to encourage and enable students to:

• appreciate human and environmental commonalities and diversity• understand the interactions and interdependence of individuals,

societies and the environment

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INDI

VIDU

ALS

&SO

CIET

IES

• understand how both environmental and human systems operate and evolve• identify and develop concern for the well-being of human communities and the natural environment• act as responsible citizens of local and global communities• develop inquiry skills that lead towards conceptual understandings of the relationships between

individuals, societies and the environments in which they live.

Inquiries in Individuals & Societies include: • Before examining the impacts of colonialism on their ‘home’ country, grade 7 students use De Bono’s

‘six thinking hats’ to investigate historical sources and foster stronger thinking skills.• In small groups grade 8 students complete a research project and present their findings on the greatest

migrations in human history from different perspectives.• After learning about different behavioral psychology theories, grade 9 students choose one of them to

conduct their own investigation into how relationships could be improved for one specific group within the ISHCMC community.


Individuals &Societies

Knowing andUnderstanding

Investigating Communicating Thinking critically

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Individuals & Societies

The IB MYP Sciences program at ISHCMC allows students to develop critical and analytical thinking skills. MYP Sciences in each grade level is a combination of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Systems to ensure that students are well prepared for the Diploma program courses. MYP Sciences develops students’ ability to become scientifically literate inquirers who are able to think critically to solve problems through research and experimentation.

AimsThe aims of MYP Sciences are to encourage and enable students to: • understand and apply scientific knowledge • cultivate analytical, inquiring and flexible minds that ask questions and

solve problems

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SCIE

NCES

• develop skills to design and perform investigations, evaluate evidence and reach conclusions• develop sensitivity towards the living and non-living environments.

Examples of inquiries in the Sciences include:• Grade 7 students making a documentary about the impacts of humans on local mangrove forests• Grade 9 students designing and creating an Interactive Science Museum exhibition• Grade 10 students auditing the school’s use of energy and making recommendations about addressing

identified areas of need.


SciencesKnowing andunderstanding

Inquiring anddesigning

Processing andevaluating

Reflecting on the impacts of

science

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Sciences

The study of Mathematics is a fundamental part of a balanced education. It promotes a powerful universal language, analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills that contribute to the development of logical, abstract and critical thinking. As students progress through the MYP, the curriculum emphasises understanding of mathematical concepts, logical communication of ideas and transferring of conceptual skills into real life applications.

At ISHCMC, all students have the opportunity to study Mathematics at an appropriate level. From Grade 8, students are placed into two separate pathways based on the ability to grasp and apply concepts in Grades 6 and 7. The Extended Level course is the pathway for students to study the IB DP Standard Level or Higher Level courses, whereas the Standard Level course is the pathway for students to study the IB DP Standard Level or Mathematical Studies courses.

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MAT

HEM

ATIC

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Calculators: A CASIO FX 9860 calculator is required in the MYP from Grade 8. It costs VND 3,000,000 and is available from the ISHCMC uniform shop.

AimsThe aims of MYP Mathematics are to encourage and enable students to:

• enjoy Mathematics, develop curiosity and begin to appreciate its elegance and power• develop an understanding of the principles and nature of Mathematics• communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of contexts• develop logical, critical and creative thinking• develop confidence, perseverance, and independence in mathematical thinking and problem solving• develop powers of generalization and abstraction• apply and transfer skills to a wide range of real life situations• appreciate the contribution of Mathematics to other areas of knowledge.

Examples of inquiries in Mathematics include:• Creating models based on data that we can collect in our everyday lives• Discovering patterns in nature • Investigating space and shape to allow students to design and build their own object.


MathematicsKnowing and

UnderstandingInvestigating

PatternsCommunicating

ApplyingMathematics in

Real–WorldContexts

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Mathematics

MYP Design links innovation with creativity and has inquiry and problem-solving at its very heart. Students learn how to think beyond their personal ‘bubbles’, examining a problem critically and deeply, unleashing their creativity while constantly reflecting on what could be done to modify and improve.

It provides investigative opportunities for students to think both critically and creatively to design and create both digital and physical solutions. A solution can be defined as a model, prototype, product or system that students have developed and created independently and/or collaboratively.

Design incorporates Product Design, Media and Food Technology.

AimsThe aims of MYP Design is to encourage and enable students to:

• enjoy the design process, develop an appreciation of its elegance and power• develop knowledge, understanding and skills from different disciplines to

design and create solutions to problems using the design cycle• apply technology effectively as a means to access, process and

communicate information• to solve problems through modeling and creating solutions• develop an appreciation of the impact of design innovations for a global

society• appreciate past, present and emerging design within a range of concepts.

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DESI

GN

MYP Design at ISHCMCIn grades 6-8, the focus is on developing understanding and use of the design cycle, developing specific skills and the inquiry is more teacher-directed.

In grades 9-10, students inquire deeper into open-ended challenges creating a range of solutions differentiated to the students’ interests and strengths.

Food TechnologyAs an extension of Design, students in Grades 7 and above can develop knowledge and a range of culinary skills including hygiene, safety, preparing and presenting food. They also learn about health and nutrition connected with food.

Integral to this course is students developing their ability and confidence to design, create and evaluate solutions to situations involving food. There is an emphasis on the approaches to learning skills such as social skills, organization and communication.

An example of an inquiry in Food Technology includes:‘Culture through cuisine’: how food can help celebrate cultural identity and diversity.

INQUIRING&

ANALYZING

CREATINGTHE

SOLUTION

EVALUATING DEVELOPINGIDEAS

Explain& justifythe need

Analyzeexisting

products Developa design

brief

Developdesign ideas

Presentthe chosen

design

Developplanning

drawings/diagrams

Constructa logical

planFollow theplan to

create thesolution

Demonstratetechnical

skills

Justifychanges

made to thedesign

Designtesting

methods

Evaluatethe success of

the solution

Explainhow thesolution

improved

Explainthe impact ofthe solution

Identify& prioritize

theresearch

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Design

MediaReal news. Fake news. Journalism. Sensationalism. We are living in a time when we are plugged into the media 24/7. Own a phone? You’re a journalist. Use Snapchat or Instagram? You’re consuming media. How can we make sense of all this information? What’s worth our time to consume? How can we share our stories with the world?

Through the study of media, students learn how to decipher the ways in which media creators use a visual medium to convey emotion and send a message to their audiences. Through the creation of media, students gain an appreciation for the vast amount of collaborative work involved in filmmaking and and how they can harness the amazing tools we have at our disposal to create media in meaningful ways.

Examples of inquiries in Media include:• Learning about the elements of film-making in order to identify what makes a great film great• A collaborative film-making project in which students take on various roles and collaborate with Music

and Drama students to create an original short film.

Examples of inquiries in Design include:The ‘Design for Purpose’ unit allows grade 6 students to explore the role of form versus function when innovating products for an identified need.

Grade 8 students consider the concepts, (creativity and functions) to explore the fundamentals of computer coding, transferring these skills to develop interactive animations and visual displays.

Grade 10 students explore the statement, “Identity and aesthetics intersect in the creation of communities and influence markets and trends” to create solutions that promote our CAS groups.


DesignInquiring and

AnalyzingDeveloping ideas

Creating the solution

Evaluating

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Design

The Arts are a universal form of human expression and a unique way of knowing that engage us in effective, imaginative and productive activities. Learning through the Arts helps us to explore, shape and communicate our sense of identity and individuality.

AimsThe aims of MYP Arts are to encourage and enable students to:

• create and present art• develop skills specific to the discipline• engage in a process of creative exploration and self-discovery• make purposeful connections between investigation and practice• understand the relationship between the Arts and their contexts• respond to and reflect on the Arts.

DramaDrama in the MYP engages students in an active relationship with theater and promotes self-learning and exploration. It encourages the growth of creative, reflective, collaborative and communication skills. Emphasis is placed on the students’ understanding of the artistic process as an essential component to their artistic development through continuous investigation, planning, goal setting, rehearsing, performing, reflection and evaluation.

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THE

ARTS

Examples of inquiries in Drama include:• Students explore points of view about fairness and injustice to create a short play that they perform in

front of a live audience.• Perspective dictates our experience of events and how we view history. Through exploration of text and

stepping into role, students explore alternative perspectives and by doing so learn to build empathy.

MusicMusic in the MYP gives students access to musical experiences that allow for the development of thinking skills, intuitive skills, practical and performance skills, communication and the ability to relate to others.

Engagement with existing and emerging music from the local community and from around the world allows students to understand the significance of music to the cultures of the world. By engaging in practical work, students develop an understanding of how the act of making music is a significant and universal aspect of human expression.

Examples of inquiries in Music include:• An exploration into how self-expression is influenced by cultural identity and audience. • How composers push the boundaries of genre and aesthetics to develop new and emerging musical

ideas.

Visual ArtsGrade 6 to 10 MYP Visual Arts students investigate the impact of Visual Arts on our identity and society with our aesthetical perspectives. This impact in particular provides students with a deeper understanding about the role of art and its importance.

Students will be able to grow through a process of investigation, developing skills and creative thinking skills. They are provided with the opportunity to be independent especially with their ideas and artistic expression while they participate in diverse collaborative activities simultaneously.

Examples of inquiries in Visual Arts include:• Students interpret images and objects from the natural world and then investigate possible uses and

construction techniques to create a sculpture from natural and organic materials. • By learning about the meanings and symbolism of objects in still life paintings, students create their own

still life artwork. • Investigating the purpose and place for street art in order to write a visual analysis of one example of it.


ArtsKnowing and

UnderstandingDeveloping skills Thinking creatively Responding

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The Arts

The MYP Physical & Health Education (PHE) course aims to empower students to understand and appreciate the value of being physically active and develop the motivation for making healthy life choices. To this end, PHE units foster the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will contribute to a student’s balanced and healthy lifestyle.

PHE focuses on both learning about and learning through physical activity. Through opportunities for active learning, courses in this subject area embody and promote the holistic nature of well-being. The course provides a balance of physical and health-related knowledge, aesthetic movement, team sports and individual sports.

32 33PHYS

ICAL

& H

EALT

HED

UCAT

ION

Through PHE students can learn to appreciate and respect the ideas of others, and develop effective collaboration and communication skills. This subject area also offers many opportunities to build positive interpersonal relationships that can help students to develop a sense of social responsibility.

AimsThe aims of MYP Physical & Health Education are to encourage and enable students to:

• understand the value of physical activity• achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle• build positive relationships and demonstrate social responsibility.

Examples of inquiry in PHE include:• Exploring different methods of creating space in invasion games. • Investigating different training methods before students select one to create and develop themselves.• Looking at different forms of dance, students learn and develop the skills involved then modify them to

create their own routine.


Physical &Health Education

Knowing andUnderstanding

Planning forperformance

Applying andperforming

Reflecting andImproving

performance

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Physical & Health Education

34 35

THE

MYP

PER

SONA

L PR

OJEC

T

35

A unique feature of the MYP is the Personal Project, an investigative inquiry which enables students to showcase the skills they have acquired throughout their time at ISHCMC. Students investigate, plan, take action and reflect upon an area of personal interest to them using ATL skills.

A student’s Personal Project begins with them establishing a challenging goal and a Global Context to shape the direction of their inquiry. A process journal is kept to capture a student’s learning journey, support developing organizational skills, and to ensure reflection is prioritized throughout the project. The Personal Project follows a cycle of inquiry learning which students will have previously encountered in Design.

Identifypersonalpassions

& interests

Identify& justifya GlobalContext

Identifyprior learning

& relevantknowledge

Establisha partnership

with yoursupervisor

Determinerigoroussuccesscriteriafor theProject

Developa detailed

and accurateaction plan

Organizeappropriateresources

Developthe product/

outcome furtherwhere needed

Evaluateproduct in

response tothe success

criteria

Createthe product/

outcomeEvaluate progressin response to the

goal, Global Context & success criteria

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The MYP Personal Project

Celebrating Personal Project successTo enable Grade 10 students to showcase the learning and outcomes of their Personal Project, ISHCMC hosts an annual Personal Project Fair. Our 2018 fair invited four student speakers to present their unique projects to an audience in our campus theater, while all students exhibited their learning in the Innovation Center. Our student speakers inspired their younger peers by presenting a range of challenging goals from a spectrum of Global Contexts:

• Spreading awareness of the Classical and Romantic eras of music to the modern world via a rearrangement of a contemporary pop song on the piano

• Creating a cross-platform online website to assist students with time management• Regenerating a local learning center for hearing-impaired children by organizing events to raise

awareness and support for it• Designing a three-dimensional drainage model to manage wastewater in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Other students have developed outcomes such as football tournaments with orphans, documentaries advocating against human trafficking, artificial coral reef design, video game creation, dance therapy classes, mental health awareness campaigns, solar panel engineering, and many more.

36 37

36 37

The MYP Personal Project

38 39CAS:

CRE

ATIV

ITY,

ACT

IVIT

Y, S

ERVI

CE

At ISHCMC we value CAS as a means of educating young people beyond the classroom. CAS experiences are not about counting hours. CAS energizes young people towards achieving goals and demonstrating attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

A CAS experience can be a single event or may be an extended series of events leading to a CAS project. Engaging in CAS promotes international mindedness and harnesses a spirit of discovery. Ultimately, CAS empowers young people towards finding their place in the world through establishing links with local, national and international communities.

The CAS strands of creativity, activity and service are defined as:Creativity - exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performanceActivity - physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle Service - collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need

Students are encouraged to engage in a wide variety of CAS experiences. All three CAS strands must be addressed at least once by every MYP student over the course of an academic year. Reflection is an important part of learning through CAS. Each student creates a CAS portfolio of supporting evidence and reflections which continues to be developed throughout the MYP years.

Service learning in the curriculumOn Wednesday afternoons ISHCMC dedicates a curriculum period to CAS. Students have a choice of about 80 CAS groups to engage with during this time, appealing to a wide variety of interests.

We place particular emphasis on service learning within our community and are committed to service as action. Service as action is defined as “student led and designed to meet an authentic need by doing more than just giving money”. (Cathy Berger Kaye)

Our service learning programs focus on three main forms of service as action:

A range of sports and other activities run throughout the school year either before school, after school or at lunchtime. These include: ISHCMC Stingrays swim team, football, volleyball, basketball, track and field, yoga and dance.

Direct Action: Indirect Action: Advocacy:

• Personal connection• Local interaction

• International connection with NGOs

• Global interaction

• Provide information• Change mindsets• Creative advertising

Examples• Teaching other students• Working in the HCMC community

Examples• Urgent Appeals• Habitat for Humanity

Examples• Diversity Group• UN Sustainable Development Group

38 39

CAS: Creativity, Activity, Service

CAS weekFormerly known as ISHCMC Goes Wild, CAS Week is a required week-long program for all secondary students that involves learning experiences beyond the classroom. CAS Week courses take place off-campus, in Vietnam, Thailand or Laos. It provides exciting learning opportunities for our students as well as a multitude of new contexts for student connections and relationships to develop.

CAS Week has a range of outcomes, including:

• Embody the CAS principles of creativity, activity and service• Actively participate in practices that reflect the IB Learner Profile• Foster ATL skills such as communication and collaboration• Increase awareness of the social and cultural issues of local communities• Engage with people from diverse cultures• Understand first-hand issues of social injustice and advocate against it• Find success through adaptability, resilience and grit• Develop social connections and relationships with classmates and teachers

In 2017, ISHCMC began collaborating with the NGO, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, advocating against human trafficking within Vietnam. We began an international service learning program with Telunas Centre in Indonesia, immersing our students in a remote Indonesian village and engaging in a labour-intensive construction project.

In 2018, ISHCMC is further expanding CAS Week by partnering with The Learning Project and ‘Action on Poverty’ in Hoa Binh province where students will collaborate with the community to complete a local construction project. Additionally, new projects in Thailand and Laos through the organization, ‘Rustic Pathways’ give opportunities for Grade 9 and 10 students to demonstrate the CAS principles of creativity, activity and service in our neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

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40 41

CAS: Creativity, Activity, Service

42 43

ASSE

SSM

ENT

AND

REPO

RTIN

G

The main purpose of assessment is to improve learning in line with our school’s mission and vision. ISHCMC teachers use assessments to develop and adapt their own planning and teaching to maximize learning amongst our students.

Variety in assessmentTo provide students with opportunities to achieve at the highest level, ISHCMC teachers develop rigorous, authentic tasks that embrace a variety of assessment strategies. These provide evidence of student understanding, communicating and thinking, not simply the recall of factual knowledge. MYP assessment tasks include:

• open–ended, problem–solving activities and investigations• tests and examinations• hands–on experimentation• model-making• performances• presentations in different forms of media• writing in different forms - essays, speeches, brochures, diary entries• analytical and/or reflective pieces of writing.

Formative assessmentTeachers use a variety of formative assessment tasks to give each student the opportunity to use skills, concepts and knowledge learned during a unit. Written (ungraded) feedback on formative tasks is given to ensure that students focus on ways to improve and thereby set learning goals.

Summative assessmentEach MYP unit includes summative assessments using the IB’s criterion-referenced model of assessment. Teachers provide grades and written feedback on summative assessments as a formal judgement of a student’s level of learning.

Each subject area has four distinct assessment criteria. Rubrics are used (and shared with students) to describe the levels of achievement in each with a grade of 1-8. This way, students’ levels of achievement are determined by their performance against set standards, not by a student’s position in an overall rank order.

How are students graded for summative assessments?The rubrics provide students with descriptions at different levels of achievement for any one assessment criterion in a subject area. Some assessments focus on just one assessment criterion, others focus on several. Teachers use the rubric descriptors to decide on a ‘best fit’ grade between 1-8.

Please refer to the individual subject area pages for the four assessment criteria specific to each subject area.

42 43

Assessment and Reporting

Total in the above example table = 22, therefore this student would achieve a grade 5 overall in this subject area:

MYP grade boundary table + equivalency chart

Criteria Total Score

MYP Final Grade

IGCSEGrades

USAGrades

GPA

28–32 7 A* A+ 4

24–27 6 A A 3.75

19–23 5 B B 3.25

15–18 4 C C 2.75

10–14 3 D D 2.00

6–9 2 E F 0

1–5 1 U F 0

At the end of the year, all the grades gathered over the year for each assessment criterion are taken into account to calculate a grade out of 8 for the four assessment criteria in each subject area. Again, teachers use the ‘best fit’ approach to arrive at the final grades.

How do the overall grades translate into words about my son/daughter?An MYP grade 4 overall: Produces good-quality work. Communicates basic understanding of most concepts and contexts with few misunderstandings and minor gaps. Often demonstrates basic critical and creative thinking. Uses knowledge and skills with some flexibility in familiar classroom situations, but requires support in unfamiliar situations.

How are grades calculated at the end of a semester?At the end of the first semester, teachers determine a student’s level of achievement for each criterion, using a ‘best fit’ approach (not an average) based on the data collected for each student. The four grades for each assessment criterion out of eight are added together and then converted into the IB’s 1–7 scale using the grade boundaries displayed below. This grade reflects a student’s overall performance level in that subject area at the end of the semester.

4 Assessment criteriafor each subject

Each criterion is out of 8(E.g. student received grade of)

Total possible criteria score for each subject is 32

ABCD

6475

22

44 45

An MYP grade 7 overall: Produces high-quality, frequently innovative work. Communicates comprehensive, nuanced understanding of concepts and contexts. Consistently demonstrates sophisticated critical and creative thinking. Frequently transfers knowledge and skills with independence and expertise in a variety of complex classroom and real-world situations.

ReportingAlongside ongoing written teacher feedback, parents receive two types of reports during an academic year:

1. Learning Updates - October and March each yearLearning Updates are designed to give an update on a student’s ATL skill development, and also include an overall comment on progress in every aspect of learning from a student’s Advisory teacher.

2. Evaluations of Learning - January and June each yearThese reports are published at the end of each semester. They again include judgements on each student’s ATL skill development as well as assessment criteria grades/overall grades for each subject area. The Evaluation of Learning report in June takes into account all the grades gathered during the academic year.

MYP completion at the end of Grade 10At the conclusion of Grade 10 all students receive a final grade in each subject area from 1 (unsatisfactory) to 7 (excellent). The MYP Completion Ceremony takes place in the final week of the school year. At the Completion Ceremony, ISHCMC students who successfully complete the MYP receive the following:

• the ISHCMC MYP certificate• a record of achievement that documents final grades in all subjects at the end of the program..

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Assessment and Reporting

46 47

STUD

ENT

SUPP

ORT

SERV

ICES

The Student Support Services at ISHCMC aim to energize, engage and empower all community members to remove barriers and open doors to provide opportunities to flourish.

Student Support Services consists of: Learning Support, English as an additional language (EAL), social and emotional well-being development via our IB Core program, and support from our highly trained counseling team.

Learning SupportThe Learning Support team collaborates with teachers and families to provide support for all students. This may include:

• differentiated support in the classroom • targeted short-term interventions both within and outside of the classroom • long-term support guided by Individualized Learning Plans.

English as additional language support (EAL) The EAL team provide a dynamic program adapted according to a student’s reading, writing and spoken needs. It consists of:

• differentiated support within the classroom • fast-track development in English which means some students will join an English Language Acquisition

class (instead of French, Spanish, Mandarin) as well as EAL support within their core classes (see the Language Acquisition subject area section).

Counseling supportOur counselors are here to support our students as and when needed, on an individual, or small group basis. Counseling supports students in being able to overcome any barriers that may be preventing the young person from flourishing.

Well-being curriculumThe counseling team collaborates with different staff to deliver the IB Core program (one lesson every two weeks from Grades 6-10) and Advisory programs aimed at enhancing student well-being through the development of the ATL skills that focus on social-emotional development. The programs focus upon:

• positive education pedagogy (See character strengths page 48)• health and well-being • interpersonal relationships• living in the wider world.

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Student Support Services

• Interest• Novelty-seeking• Exploration• Openness

CURIOSITY

• Persistence• Industry• Finishing what one

starts

PERSEVERANCE

LOVE• Both loving and being

loved• Valuing close relations

with others

• Mercy• Accepting others’

shortcomings• Giving people a second

chance

FORGIVENESS

• Thankful for the good• Expressing thanks• Feeling blessed

GRATITUDE

TRANSCENDENCE

TEMPERANCE

COURAGE

WISDOM

Character Strengths Character strengths are positive parts of your personality that can affect how you feel, think and behave. When you use your strengths you can feel a great sense of achievement and happiness. You should draw on these strengths to help you when selecting ways to do assignments, in relationships and for setting goals

Source: http://www.viacharacter.org/www/Character-Strengths

JUSTICE

HUMANITY

CREATIVITY• Originality• Adaptive• Ingenuity

BRAVERY• Not shrinking from fear• Speaking up for what’s

right

APPRECIATION OFBEAUTY & EXCELLENCE

• Awe• Wonder

• Wisdom• Taking the big picture view

PERSPECTIVE

• Aware of the motives/feelings of self/others

• Knowing what makes other people tick

SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Organizing group activities• Encouraging a group to

get things done

LEADERSHIP

• Self-control• Disciplined• Managing impulses &

emotions

SELF-REGULATION

• Faith• Purpose• Meaning

• Critical thinking• Thinking things through• Open-mindedness

JUDGMENT

• Authenticity• Integrity

HONESTY

• Generosity• Care & Compassion• Altruism

KINDNESS

TEAMWORK• Social responsibility• Loyalty• Work effectively with

others

• Modesty• Letting one’s

accomplishments speak for themselves

HUMILITY

• Optimism• Future-mindedness• Future orientation

HOPE

• Mastering new skills• Systematically adding to

knowledge

LOVE OF LEARNING

• Enthusiasm• Energy• Zeal

ZEST

• Just• Avoiding bias

FAIRNESS

• Careful• Cautious• Not taking undue risks

PRUDENCE

• Playfulness• Bringing smiles to others• Lighthearted

HUMOR SPIRITUALITY

Student Support Services

5050 51

Notes

50 51

Tel: +84 (28) 3898 9100

Fax: +84 (28) 3898 9382

Email: [email protected]

Primary Campus28 Vo Truong Toan St., An Phu Ward,D2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Secondary Campus1 Xuan Thuy St., Thao Dien Ward, D2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

www.ishcmc.com

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme · The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a curriculum designed for students aged 11–16, a period that is a particularly

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